"The first victory we can claim is that our hearts are free of hatred. Hence we say to those who persecute us and who try to dominate us: ‘You are my brother. I do not hate you, but you are not going to dominate me by fear. I do not wish to impose my truth, nor do I wish you to impose yours on me. We are going to seek the truth together’. THIS IS THE LIBERATION WHICH WE ARE PROCLAIMING."
Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas (2002)

Monday, March 3, 2014

A Resistance Manifesto for Venezuela by the Patriotic Student and Peoples Council

#Resistance

March 3, 2014

Manifesto of Mérida

Students have unified the nation around the conquest of the Freedom of Venezuela. For that reason
the Castro-communist regime with paramilitary groups and the National Guard have
killed, tortured and imprisoned colleagues throughout the national
territory. The people have joined us: its libertarian spirit has awakened before the oppression of 15 years of this political system. In virtue of this historic moment, we hold before the country the following
position in a manner that is convincing, honorable and indispensable, against those who want to dominate us and their collaborators:1)
Every political system is effective to the extent that their leaders
are representative: the people in the street have shown that today
that has ceased to be. In this sense, they are asking us to dialogue after 15 years of oppression. We do not want the peace of slaves: we are free Venezuelans. No dialogue is possible with a crony and totalitarian regime, which seeks to make us dependent. Freedom is not for sale . We will not legitimize a regime that has impoverished the majority of Venezuelans. The dialogue roundtables of 2004, in which Jimmy Carter and Cesar Gaviria were, demonstrated that there are not good intentions. Such regimes are inefficient: they purposely destroy Nations to control them better. We will not dialogue to perpetuate in power the worse Venezuelans. Any possibility of dialogue for us is imperatively conditioned, for a root change of the system.2) We demand as patriots the withdrawal of the entire Cuban military occupation force . We
want them to leave our territory, all the functionaries in our institutions because
they represent, with their interference in our internal affairs, a threat to
the security of the Nation . We want a sovereign Nation.

3) We will conquer our freedom. Individual freedom. Economic freedom to be able to live by the product of our own efforts. Freedom of speech to inform and express ourselves without any controls by any regime. Political freedom to protest, assemble and organize without it being a crime. Freedom to choose without it signifying a farce. We do not tolerate the controls of this Castro-communist regime nor any other that undermines the values ​​and principles of Venezuelans.4)
We demand the disbanding and disarmament of the paramilitary groups that
protect and arm the regime to instill fear among Venezuelans. In this sense, as long as the terrorist attack by these groups continue with impunity, we call on the people to defend itself. We protect ourselves with the "Trenches of Freedom" in our cities and towns,
because we will not allow attacks on what is most sacred to us: the family and
heritage.

5) We demand the immediate release of all political prisoners ,
full freedom for those who were detained and the return of all exiles.Venezuelans,This is the moment to define our destiny. Our national identity is being tested and we have sensitized the world to our courage. There is no possibility of real change if we do not arrive to the end: therefore, it is prohibited to lose. We will win, and with the people reestablish the nation as the freest on the continent. In memory of our fallen we will not give up. It's time to rewrite the history of Venezuela and sign it with the sweat of our efforts.Therefore
, that from today March 2, 2014 from the trenches of the Freedom of
the City of Mérida, we declare constituted the PATRIOTIC STUDENT AND
PEOPLES COUNCIL ( JPEP ) in order to restore Freedom and Sovereignty to Venezuela, at a meeting of student leaders, youth and popular fighters of the country, subscribe the undersigned,